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In today's market-driven world, the contemporary church faces pressing questions as it continues to be formed by the powerful forces of neoliberal capitalism. This book builds on theological examinations of capitalism and consumerism to develop a theology of marketing that addresses two key questions. First, even though church marketing seems to help churches grow amidst a climate of declining church affiliation, should the church use it? Second, considering the church's indistinguishability from culture in relation to consumption, how should Christians relate to material goods?
To address these questions, Emily Beth Hill develops a framework that draws on the concrete practices of marketing (such as focus groups, big data, branding, and advertising) and the trajectory of their use over time, along with Martin Luther's theology of the Word. Combining Martin Luther's pro me ("for me") theology with marketing concepts, Hill shows that while marketing and the gospel have formal pro me similarities, materially they are quite different: marketing operates as a word of law distinct from the effective, liberating word of the gospel proclaimed for us, and thus the two produce different human identities. While existing examinations of capitalism primarily rely on theologies and discourses of desire, Hill reveals that a theology of the Word illuminates a fruitful new area for reflection on how the church can resist the deformations of capitalism.
List of contents
Introduction: Sermons, Sacraments, and Shopping
Chapter 1: A Brief History of the American Dream
Chapter 2: Marketing "For You"
Chapter 3: The Word of God "For You"
Chapter 4: Slavery and Freedom, A Pro Me Comparison
Conclusion: The Freedom of a Christian in America
About the author
Emily Beth Hill (Ph.D., University of Aberdeen) is a theologian and campus pastor in Cincinnati, Ohio. Before pursuing theology and ministry, she spent 10 years working in international marketing research.
Summary
In this book, Emily Beth Hill utilizes Martin Luther’s theology of the Word to develop a theology of marketing to help the church address pressing questions in a market-driven world. Hill demonstrates that only the proclamation of the gospel can liberate human beings in a consumer society.
